CRAFT Shelter Closes

Due to financial reasons, the Cat Rescue, Adoption and Foster Team of Central Oregon (CRAFT) is closing its doors after eight years operating at its current location off Tumalo Road. CRAFT is a cats-only shelter that prides itself on service to sick, abandoned and injured cats. Bonnie Baker, who runs the nonprofit, had initially made plans to relocate in 2019. However, she explains that the building owner's health has changed those plans. The idea was to eventually move to an Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) property to allow the cats more room. "We are a cage-free facility, so the cats live in a more homelike environment," says Baker, thus, making larger digs more appealing to the nonprofit.

Baker has very strong opinions and thoughts as to why obtaining EFU lands or funding has been so difficult, and she is not afraid to share them. "The real estate market is rather tight...the new 'gold rush' with marijuana growers and processors scooping up these types of properties for businesses are driving up prices and making it that much harder to find something suitable," Baker says. She is also not too pleased about the general response from the media or from the government. "The shelters...get thousands of dollars every month from the county or city because they deal with dogs. There is no such arrangement if you just help cats. This might be dog town, USA, but this certainly does not apply to the cats here, many are invisible or ignored," says Baker.

The shelter is no longer accepting cats, due to its doors closing. Baker estimates that during its eight years, almost 10,000 cats have been taken in and taken care of. She asks that anyone who would like to volunteer, to please reach out and do so. They still need help placing cats with special needs in forever homes.